WATCHING all the twists and turns of the Anfield ownership crisis, I can’t help but feel sorry for the Liverpool supporters and at the same time feel fortunate that at Bolton we have an owner who genuinely has the welfare of the club at heart.

Eddie Davies is a Wanderers fan through and through; he supported the team when he was growing up and, for more than 10 years now he has been a major influence on the way the club has been run.

He has put his money where his mouth is, considerable sums of money which have gone a long way to establishing the club as a serious force in the Premier League. Just look at the club’s record since he joined the club.

Compare that with Tom Hicks and George Gillett at Liverpool and it’s like chalk and cheese.

It’s difficult to make judgments when you don’t know all the ins and outs of the situation, but I think the way things have deteriorated so dramatically at Anfield in recent months, weeks and days, it seems clear to me they are not interested in the club’s well-being and are only it it for the money.

If the two Americans genuinely wanted the best for Liverpool Football Club, they would cut their losses, walk away and let someone else have a go.

I’ve no idea how things will pan out – expecially with the drama having to be played out in the courts – but, as you can imagine, coming from a family of Liverpool supporters and still living there, I know how the whole sorry mess is affecting the poor supporters.

With my mum and dad both being Liverpool fans there have been some interesting conversations over the dinner table and you can’t help but sympathise.

Liverpool supporters aren’t just wondering how long it will be before they are watching Champions League football again at Anfield, they’re seriously concerned that the club could even go into administration and be docked nine points, which would have even more damaging consequences.

It’s a sad situation but this is what can happen when a club gets into foreign hands, under the control of people who just see the glamour of the Premier League and have no genuine passion for the clubs they are in control of.

I’ve got my doubts about Manchester City. Okay, foreign investment has made them probably the wealthiest club in the world but the investors will demand success, instant success, and it doesn’t necessarily work that way. You can buy the best 11 players in the world, but unless the team is run properly, there are no guarantees . . and then what happens?

As far as matters near to home are concerned, the training ground at Euxton has been like a ghost town with so many players away on international duty.

Obviously it’s fantastic to see two Bolton players – Kevin Davies and Gary Cahill – in the England squad for tonight’s game against Montenegro at Wembley but there have been so many others away that Owen Coyle has had no option but to make the most of the international break.

One surprise absentee was Jussi Jaaskelainen. As we all know, Jussi retired from international football so that he could concentrate on playing just for Bolton and, of course, spend less time away from his family.

But, such is his devotion to his country that when Finland came to him in their hour of need, he answered the call.

Having so many internationals is an illustration of how far the club has come since my day when we only had a handful – the likes of John McGinlay, Owen himself, Jason McAteer and Keith Branagan involved in the various Sotland and Ireland squads, Alan Subbs on the fringes with England – and big Mixu Paatelainen involved with Finland.

That might be little consolation to Owen, though, as he waits anxiously for them all to get back fit and well and ready to take on Stoke here at the Reebok on Saturday.

It’s a big game for both teams and one where the Bolton fans can once again play their part as the treasured 12th man.